Mistress Blackburn 



A Sketch 

of the American 

Revolution 





By 

John W. Parks 

Author of 

An Episode of 

the French Revolution 



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MISTRESS 
BLACKBURN 

A SKETCH OF THE PERIOD 

OF THE 

AMERICAN REVOLUTION 



■p 
JOHN W. PARKS 

Author of 

An Episode of 

the French Revolution 



* 



BOSTON, MASS. 
DECEMBER 1st, 1900 



71. 



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87950 



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DEC 13 1900 

* C^yright entry 

SECOND COPY 

Delivered to 

OHDtR DIVISION 
JAN 7 1901 



•ft 1 *i 



Copyright 1900 

BY 

John W. Parks 



TMP96-006765 



PREFACE 



In writing this scrap, the author has not striven 
to do more than to make a little sketch, of a very 
simple nature. He is very far from claiming 
any literary merit for it, as he is well aware that 
there are many criticisms to be made. But it is 
simply intended for just what it is, "a sketch." 

The Author. 



Time of Playing, fifteen minutes. 
Costumes of the Revolutionary period. 



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PROPERTIES. 

Bellows for Jonah. 
Handkerchief for Marion. 
Papers for table. 
Bandage for Marion. 
Bottle of Liquid for Marion. 
Hadley's Sword for Fairlee. 



ABBREVIATIONS. 
R. Right. D. R. Door at Right. 

L. Left. D. L. Door at Left. 

S. C. Staircase. W. B. Window at Back. 



MISTRESS BLACKBURN, 

A SKETCH IN ONE SCENE. 



BY 
JOHN W. PARKS. 



Time: — The day of the surrender of Cornwal- 
lis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781. 

Place: — Blackburn Manor, Charleston, South 
Carolina. 



CHARACTERS. 
Lord Charles Fairlee, Of His Majesty's Forces 
Lieutenant John Hadley, Of the Colonial Army 
Mistress Marion Blackburn, 

A true little "American" 
Uncle Jonah, An old negro servant of the 

Household 
A Soldier 



Scene: — Drawing-room in Blackburn Manor. 



2 MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 

(Jonah discovered blowing the embers in the 
open fireplace, with a pair of bellows) — "Ma 
Goodness ! Ma Goodness ! now here am ol' fool 
Jonah he go an' get hisself all worked up over 
dees ter'bul awful times. Poor lil' Missie she 
cry and carry on ter'bul bad 'cause she hear dat 
Massa John he done gone and get shooted in de 
war, an Massa Charles he done treat de young 
Missie shameful 'cause she done absolutionlly re- 
fuse to listen to his foolishness. Massa Charles, 
he say: "Why doan you lub me?" and de little 
Missie she answer, " 'Cause I hab gibben my heart 
to anuder much more nobler den you could eber 
be." Den Massa Charles he storm and rage and 
say, "Very well, we shall see." Den Missie she 
turn up her pretty lil' nose and sweep right pas' 
Massa Charles and up de stairs to her room. Den 
dere is trouble. An' de trouble it dun keep agoin' 
on. Den cum de news as how Massa John he got 
shot. But Lor' old Jonah he kin' a ticklish 'bout 
takin' any stock in dat story. Ah doan know 
why, but ah just don't. No sir ! ah don believe 



MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 3 

it. Dere com' de lil' Missie now, ol' Jonah he al- 
ways know dos lil' footsteps ever since de day 
when de lil' Missie she walk for de first time. 
(Enter at staircase, Marion.) 
Marion -.—Jonah, has Lord Fairlee returned 

yet? 

j onah: — Not yet, Missie; he dun say notting 

when he went out. 

Marion : — Oh Jonah, when are these terrible 
days going to end? You and I are the only sur- 
vivors, Jonah, of the unfortunate family. We are 
left to uphold the honor of the household, which I 
fear will be poorly done, since this Fairlee is a ty- 
rant. Aye, a tyrant. He has me in his power 
to do his will, but he can never win my love, for 
that was given to the bravest, noblest, dearest 
hero in the American army. 

j 0NAH : _Ah dun kin' o' suspicion de Missie 
mean Massa John? 

Marion: (With a sigh) Yes. 

j 0NAH : _Massa John he dun bin powerful kind 
to ole Jonah in de good ol' days befor' de war; be- 



4 MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 

for' de British dey come an' occupy de ole home- 
stead here, an' flar aroun' here as doe dey dun own 
de huT earth. Massa John he always treat me 
'bout right, Massa John did. One day he say to 
me, "J onan /' ne sa y> "You take powerful good 
care ob Miss Marion while I'se away, an' doan let 
no harm come to her," an' I promise, an' den he 
goes away to de war. Den de next we hear ob 
him — Marion cries softly in her handker- 
chief.) Ah! Missie, I forgot, ole Jonah forgot 
Missie. Forgive me, Miss Marion. Ah thought 
de Missie believed de same as ole Jonah does. 

Marion: (Drying her eyes.) What do you 
mean Jonah? 

Jonah : — Ah doan believe dat story about Mas- 
sa John, Missie. 

Marion : — Don't believe it ? 

Jonah: — Deed ah don't, Missie, (whispers) 
ah believe dat Massa John am just as much alive 
as old Jonah is. 

Marion : — Jonah ! ! Sh — . Someone is com- 
ing. (Exit door right.) 



MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 5 

(Enter Lord Fairlee, Left proceeded by H ad- 
ley. Hadley is zuounded in the hand and cov- 
ered with blood and dirt.) 

Fairlee : — Gadsooks, lieutenant ! but you are 
obstinate ! You will remain here on parole until 
I can investigate further. If you still persist in 
refusing to state your business prowling around 
our outposts at midnight, I shall be forced to 
use firmer measures with you. Your behavior is 
suspicious, lieutenant. 

Jonah : (In a whisper aside) Massa John ! ! 
Ah knew it ! Ah knowed it ! (Exit door right. ) 

Fairlee : — Jonah ! Come back here, you black 
trash. Here, show the young lieutenant to the 
west (Jonah re-enters.) chamber, where he is to 
lodge. (Hadley remains sullen, throughout.) 

Jonah : — Yes, Massa Charles, I'se gone right 
away sir, deed ah is. ( Fairlee sits at table lit- 
tered with papers before the fireplace.) (Exit 
Jonah and Hadley at S. C.) 

Fairlee: (To himself, zvatching the fire.) 
This young lieutenant — what does his strange si- 



6 MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 

lence mean? Is he an American spy? If not, 
why is he caught prowling around our lines at 
dead of night ? He seems strangely familiar with 
this place. Can it be that he knows this little 
bird of mine that I am keeping caged up here? 
Can it be — that he — is — in — love — ah, no! what 
madness — it is possible, though — but improb- 
able. Marry ! but I am truly in love. But this 
man; if he is a spy — he must meet the conse- 
quences that come to such as he. I will test him 
again. (Exit Left.) 

(Enter right door. Jonah leading Marion 
by the hand.) 

Jonah : — Ah tells you Missie it am de plain old 
Gospel trute. It am, Massa John, and dat am all 
dere is about it. 

Marion : — Jonah it can't be. It is impossible. 

Jonah : — Impossible or not impossible. Ah 
tells you Missie ole Jonah is right dis time for 
sure. Wait here. (At staircase, aside.) Oh, 
my, won't dere be some huggin' now. (Exit.) 

Marion : — If this should be true ! ! My Jack 



MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 7 

come back to me from the dead. Jonah must be 
mistaken. (Enter from staircase Hadley.) 

Marion : — Jack ! ! ! 

Hadley : — My darling ! ( They embrace. ) 

Marion : — Oh ! this is too good to be true; tell 
me dear, how came you here ? Oh-0-0 ! I'm so 
glad to see you. ( They sit on sofa at right. ) 

Hadley : — It is too long a story, dear, to tell in 
detail, suffice it to say that I was sent out on 
scouting duty by Gen. Green, with a small squad 
of men, and venturing too near the British lines 
was taken prisoner, together with my men, by 
Lord Fairlee, with a company of infantry, which 
outnumbered us four to one. Two of my men 
were shot down, and — Marion sees his 
zvounded hand.) 

Marion : — Jack ! ! ! You are wounded ! 

Hadley : — No, a mere scratch. It's nothing, 
dear. (Rises.) 

Marion : — Wait. (Exits hurriedly, D. R.) 

Hadley: (Walks about room.) Am I 
dreaming? Back in the old homestead again. 



8 MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 

My sweetheart's dear face. The same dear lit- 
tle arms around my neck. After all these weary 
months of longing, and thoughts of her so of- 
ten flocking through my brain. She's the same 
dear, sweet little girl that she was when I saw her 
last. Always cheerful, sweet and lovely. Oh ! 
1 love her so that — 

(Re-enter Marion with cloth and bottle, D. R.) 

Marion : — Now, dearie, let me be surgeon this 
time. (blustering.) Come, let me see your 
hand. (Takes Hadley's hand.) 

Hadley: — My! but I wish we might always 
have such sweet little surgeons in the army as this. 
I know I should want to be wounded twice a day. 

Marion : — Now don't talk nonsense. There; 
isn't that better ? 

Hadley: — Yes dear, so much better that I 
should hardly know that I was wounded. (As 
Marion finishes the bandage, Lord Fairlee en- 
ters D. L.) 

Fairlee: — Hello, what's this? By my faith, 
Mistress Marion you seem to lose little time in 



MISTRESS BLACKBURN. g 

making acquaintances, or — is — is the young 
lieutenant a former acquaintance ? 

Marion: (Sarcastically.) Does it so great- 
ly interest your lordship ? 

Fairlee: — Marry! Madamoiselle, it does in- 
terest me, and so greatly that I would fain know 
at once! 

Marion : — Really! Your lordship must great- 
ly misjudge my temper if you think I can be 
forced. 

Fairlee: — Nay, Miss Marion, I did not in- 
tend — 

Hadley : — Enough of this ! My lord, we are 
acquainted, in fact, we love each other. Nay 
Marion, we may as well speak the truth — we have 
known each other from childhood ; have grown up 
together. (Fairlee shows great emotion.) 

Fairlee: — And yet, lieutenant, the telling of 
this to me only makes the duty of condemning 
you as a spy the harder to me, not for the sake 
of you, God forbid, but for the sake of the girl 
by your side there, whom I love, also. (Hadley 



io MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 

ejaculates. ) Aye, I have said it, love her. Lieu- 
tenant, reveal to me your business about our lines 
at night, and agree to make certain other dis- 
closures to me, and I will let you go your — 

Hadley : — God ! ! How dare you insult me 
thus? {Goes to window at back.) 

Fairlee: — Damme! lieutenant, but you are 
fiery; I did but suggest — 

Marion : — Desist, I beg of you ! 

Fairlee : — Pardon me Madamoiselle, I had al- 
most forgotten your presence; would Made- 
moiselle kindly step aside into the next room. 

Marion : — No ! ! I prefer to remain ! 

Fairlee : — As you will. Lieutenant ! I revoke 
your parole ! You shall be shot at once, without 
delay. {Aside.) This must frighten him into 
revealing his business about our lines. {Aloud.) 
What ho ! without there ! 

Marion: {Astounded.) What do you say? 
{Runs to Fairlee and falls on her knees clasping 
one of his hands.) No, No, No, you cannot 
mean it. Why, do you know what you are do- 



MISTRESS BLACKBURN. n 

ing. Shooting a man without trial — Hadley 
at back.) 

Fairlee: — What ho! without there, I say! 
(Impatiently.) 

(Noise and shouts off stage.) 

Marion : — You cannot do it, for my sake if 
you ever cared for me as you say, for the love 
of heaven you will not do this thing. 

Fairlee : — It is my duty. He is a spy of the 
enemy's forces. 

Marion : — Never ; I will not believe it ! 

Hadley: (Comes forward.) Lord Fairlee, 
with your permission I am now ready to speak, 
for you will never convict me. 

Fairlee: — You speak in riddles, lieutenant. 
Proceed. 

(Slow music.) 

Hadley : — I but now heard a cry in the street 
which is the most glorious news ever heard by 
man, and which convinces me in my belief that 
you will never convict me, my lord. (Distant 
cheering and noise off stage continued.) 



Jar. 



12 MISTRESS BLACKBURN. 

Fairlee: — I still fail to comprehend, lieu- 
tenant. 

Hadley : — Listen. (Noise grows louder, and 
distant shouts are heard of "Cornwallis sur- 
rendered!" repeatedly.) 

Fairlee: (Faintly.) What!! 

Jonah bursts into the room shouting and 
cheering, follozved by a Soldier of the British, D. 
L.) 

Soldier: (Salutes.) Lord Cornwallis has 
surrendered at Yorktown, your lordship, and the 
war is at an end ! 

Jonah : — Praise be de lord ! (Repeats several 
times with arms uplifted and dances around. 
Marion and Hadley embrace. Fairlee stag- 
gers to table and leans against it with one hand 
to brow, then speaks, taking sword from table and 
handing it to Hadley.) (After a pause.) 

Fairlee: — Your sword, lieutenant. (Tab- 
leaux.) , 
CURTAIN. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
| 015 910 123 ft j 



